The Tree of Life

Parting Gifts

Letting Go

The Lotus & the Peacock

"A child's intelligent heart can fathom the depth of many dark places, but can it fathom the delicate moment of its own detachment?"

from the film: Detachment

Cat in Spring

The Walls of Constaninople

The Walls of Constaninople

Shobak

Old Houses in Shobak, Jordan

Fuhais: Past and Present

Pictures from the town in Jordan where I live

The Virgin

House Sketch

The Christ

وجدّتُ نفسي ضائِعةً

في ذا المكان

و أنا لا أدري

من يبحثُ عمَّن

وجدّتُ نفسي ضائعةً

مِنّي

فقلتُ لها:

لماذا، لماذا

تركتيني؟

فقالت هي، 

فقالت و قالت،

و ما فهِمتُ،

ما قالَتْ.

A Man, Not a Tree

You are a tree

not a man,

when you harm me.

Can I see the tree,

not the man?

Can I perceive,

in that moment,

your whole?

Am I God?

Can I see your seed,

where it fell,

on what soil,

How your roots spread,
 and multiplied,

and crushed,

and splintered

the soil,

How you sucked in,

what was in that soil,

How you germinated,

and sprouted,

and obliterated

the cubic millimeters

of earth above you

to breathe air,

How you reached out

towards the heavens,

bent this way and that,

under sun,

and wind,

and rain,

How you budded,

your first leaf,

stood on your own,

breathed on your own,

and smiled at the sun,

-A tree

not a man-

How you spread your arms,

in welcome,

received your first blows,

and carried,

your first bird,

your first nest,

survived your first winter,

naked in the cold?

Do I see

all the rings,

forming and growing continually,

inside your trunk?

Do I see

the bark,

growing and dying,

on your surface,

protecting you from harm?

Your first fruit,

your second.

What fruit is it?

What color?

What life in you,

has made this new life,

that now hangs,

for all to see?

A man,

not a tree,

you are,

when you harm me.

But do I see,

the tree?

اليومْ عُلِّقَ على خَشَبة

 الذي عَلَّقَ الأرضَ على الِمياه

إِكليلٌ منْ شَوكٍ وُضِعَ

 على هامَةِ ملكِ الملائِكة
بِرفيراً كاذبًا تسربلْ
الذي وشَّحَ السَّماءَ بالغُيومْ
قَبِل لَطمَةً

 الذي أَعتَقَ آدَمَ في الأُردُنْ
خَتَنُ البِيعَةِ سُمِّرَ بالمساميرْ
و ابنُ العذراءِ

 طُعِنَ بِحَربَة

نَسجُدُ لآلامِكَ أيُّها المَسيحْ
فأرِنا قِيامَتَكَ المَجيدَة

آمين

Today on a tree is hung

He who hung the firmament on the waters

A crown of thorns is placed

On the head of the King of Angels

A counterfeit robe is given

Him who clothed the heavens with clouds

He who redeemed Adam in Jordan

Accepted a blow

The people's bridegroom

Was pierced with nails

The son of the virgin

Was pierced by a spear

We worship your Passion, oh Christ

Reveal to us your glorious resurrection

Amen

A song by Fairuz

"Forgive us our debts,

as we forgive our debtors"

"For if ye forgive men their trespasses,

your heavenly father will also forgive you:

But if ye forgive not men their trespasses,

neither will your father forgive your trespasses."